India Flood: 68 Missing, Death Toll Tops 70

 

Indian authorities say at least 68 people remain missing a week after a massive flash flood and mudslide swept through the Himalayan town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state on August 5. The confirmed death toll stands at four, but officials warn the overall number of fatalities will likely exceed 70.

Survivor footage showed torrents of muddy water demolishing multi-storey buildings as debris surged down the narrow mountain valley. Rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force are using sniffer dogs and ground-penetrating radar in the search for bodies, but progress is hampered by damaged roads and communication lines.

The missing include 44 Indians, 22 Nepalis, and nine soldiers. Over 100 people were initially unaccounted for, but the number has been revised as rescue teams verify reports.

While the cause has not been officially confirmed, scientists believe intense rainfall may have triggered a collapse of debris from a rapidly melting glacier—an increasingly common hazard in the Himalayas as climate change accelerates ice loss and destabilises permafrost. Experts warn the disaster underscores the growing risk of extreme weather events linked to global warming.